Help me! I swore I'd never have a Thumbsucker! My first son tried to suck his thumb but we immediately gave him the paci. No problem! But my second?!?!
She did not start until she was 2 months old. It was like once she found it she was obsessed with it. I tried pulling it out repeatedly and covering it, ( for weeks)but she would just suck through it and scream and get aggrivated. So, we gave in. She did look really cute and she sleeps great at night, probably because she does not have to look for a paci, her thumb is always right there.
BUT now her poor little finger is all red and dry and peeling. I have to do something!
Any suggestions?? Someone told me to put aloe on it because she won't like the taste, but is that okay for her to ingest and will it really work.
I appreciate any advice.... Thanks so much!
I just want to thank everyone for your insight and advice. I don't feel so bad having a thumbsucker now. It is not the actual thumbsucking itself that worries me, (I think it is sooo cute) it is the detrimental effects it could have. My friend knew someone who's daughter's thumb is permanently deformed from sucking it so much. She still does as an adult! Thanks again for all of your responses.
Not that this is any help but my 8 year old also sucks her thumb and we've tried it all and nothing seems to work. Only the threat of less presents each time we caught her for Christmas, she went from 15 presents down to 12 from the times we caught her but now that Christmas is over she's back to doing it and I have no idea what to do to stop it.
I have to say CAN NOT stand the thumbsucking or the nail biting. when i met my hubby he use to bit his nails. I went to walgreens in the baby area and got Thum it stops thumb sucking and nail biting. it is Okay for her to ingest the main ingerdiant is Cayenne pepper extract and citric acid
good luck
R.
L.,
I have heard about the aloe thing myself. Haven't tried it yet. I understand you are concerned about the ingestion of the aloe, however it will not hurt her. It is a natural plant. Aloe is great for many things and this is something that I am going to have to try with my 2 1/2 year old as well.
S.
SAHM of 3 boys
My thumbsucker was one content baby..she actually sucked her thumbs until the orthodontist told her to stop and then she did. Do not frustrate the baby, she probably sucked it in utero...if it hurts her she will stop otherwise accept it and allow her this pleasure
Doris Deno
Baby Girl, now 25 years old
Both of my children such there thumb and I have encountered this problem. I actually used olive oil. Completely safe to ingest and also moisturizing. I know that it is frusturating having a thumbsucker but she will grow out of it. Most kids do by the time they start school. My daughter actually sucks one thumb and uses her other hand to twirl her hair when going to sleep. She actually has to keep a short hair cut because the side she twirls is frayed and short from pulling, so thumb sucking is not the worst habit to have. All babies are different and do need to soothe themselves. Don't worry and don't feel bad that your baby sucks her thumb. At least she has a way to soothe herself.
I myself sucked my thumb when I was small and my grandma put a sock on my thumb at night and promised me something(what I don't remember) but I quit sucking my thumb.
L.,
I understand that you are concerned about your child and like all parents want the best for them. but i can honestly say that i sucked my thumb well into my teenage years. and the harder people tried to make me stop the more determined i was to keep doing it. fact of the matter is to me thumb sucking was a way for me to feel comfortable and secure. it was soothing for me well into my teenage years. as a child i was able to comfort myself when i felt i needed it and even now when i am sleepng my husband sometimes catches me sucking my thumb. let her do her thing. if this is what she needs to feel comfort than it shouldn't be such an issue. eventually my mother introduced a blanky to me. she always made sure that it had something silky around the edges that i could rub that helped me in quitting thumbsucking. it became another way of self soothing. and i still am drawn to things that have silky stuff on it. i think personally thumbsucking is ok. it didn't affect me and it didn't stunt my growth in any form (personality, mentally, or any other form). of course its up to you as parent but i would suggest that you let her self soothe or maybe try something like a blanky or special stuffed animal instead if thats what she feels she needs to have with her.
as for her thumb being chapped and cracking if you are comfortable with it let her know she has two thumbs and while one is healing she can suck the other. try putting bag balm on her thumb and wrap it up overnight or during the day and continue this until it heals. bag balm is used on cows utters so they don't get chapped. i have used it for years and i swear by it of course its not something i would suggest she put in her mouth but if you wrap her thumb well enough you shouldnt worry it just need to soak in more than anything. otherwise aloe can be useful but its not always great for chapped skin. if youare still uncomfortable with it find a moisturizing hand soap and constantly wash her hands. i know that my thumb was always chapped when i was a kid because of it. of course i also grew up in cold weather so thats one thing you have going for you. good luck.
Hi L...I know this is an old request..I just wanted to add that I would not use aloe because it has a laxative effect and your daughter could have stomach trouble. Hope this is helpful!
A. :)
Good Luck.
My 4 y/o is STILL a thumb sucker. We have tried it all. The aloe the garlic nail polish. One thing that worked was a bandaid. We would put it on his thumb and I guess he did not like the texture, But once he learned to take it off he was back to sucking.
His pedi said we will have to wait and see if he will break this habit. He now only sucks his thumb when he is going to sleep and even then once he is asleep i will pull his finger out of his mouth. I guess that is better than an all day thumb sucker.
Hi L.,
My 15 month old son sucks his thumb as well. When I asked my pediatrician what I can do, she said there's not a lot at this time. My son's thumb gets red and chapped at times as well. I just learned to accept it and hope that he will grow out of it.. He grew out of his pacifier, so he'll hopefully get over this too. I have noticed he doesn't suck it as much as he used to because it's not as red...I say if she's happy, I would just let her do it for now and not really worry. It's soothing to them.
Good luck!
Hello L.,
Much like you I am a mother of 2 small babies. When my first was born he sucked his thumb and I listened to the Doctor and gave him a pasi. A year later when my 2nd was born she also sucked her thumb. Babies need the sucking to self soothe. It also helps the muscles of the mouth. I left my second alone and let her suck her thumb, she only does it to sleep. My first on the other hand had to have a paci all the time and was always getting sick. It was a nightmare of many sleepless nights to take away. I sucked my thumb as a baby and into my early ages of grade school. I am the only one of my parents children that did. I never needed braces and I grew up being a well rounded person, very independent and successful. Moral of the story you want your babies to grow up safe and healthy. Don't make a big deal about it and when your little one is ready she will let it go even though it is attached to her body. As for the redness and tenderness of her thumb it will be difficult to put anything on it due to the fact it's going right back in her mouth and a 6 month old doesn't understand hygiene. Good luck and rest a sure knowing your beautiful baby girl won't be sucking her thumb at the senior prom.
L. - my 6 y.o. daughter was a finger sucker, and my 4 m.o son sucks his thumb. My dr. said it is preferable for kids to suck their fingers/thumbs over a pacifier, because if they want to use their hands to do something, they need to remove their hand from their mouth. Rest assured, your daughter will outgrow this habit soon enough. She is only 6 months old, and this habit is teaching her how to self-soothe.
If you really want to speed up the process, my suggestion would be to put a little olive oil on it. It may not work, but it will help her dry, chapped skin.
